i think that they could be the better half of me.

me: ok brain this is a pivotal moment work with me here
brain: let me think about it... no

Whatever she was building up to, he found himself amused. And that amusement may have radiated out from him over the way she seemed so flustered in whatever it was that she had to share. And when she did share it, well, he could have colored himself surprised and yet only so far. There had been reasons to suspect why she had lingered about so long, obviously drawn to him in ways that he found himself drawn to her.

Yet a fair amount of those feelings went by the wayside when the real truth in it came rolling out. His expression had crested somewhere with warmth, but fell cleanly. He didn't take the moment to process it, instead querying her: "What?" The unspoken why would speak for itself; it showed in the evolution of emotion.